DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters they belong to Marvel.
A/N: The general idea for this fic I got off a book written by Sandra Hill.
-This story is untitled. I'm still trying to come up with a title that would suit it right. Please, if you have any ideas don't hesitate to let me know. I appreciate any help. Thanks :o)
Chapter One
"No, Ah don't want tah meet him." Rogue told her friend as soon as they entered the elevator of the five star hotel. With luck she'd reach the eleventh floor in a minimum of time, and with a minimum of words from Katherine Pryde.
Kitty and Amara, another student at the Xavier Institute For The Gifted were sharing a room in the tenth floor, while Rogue and Ororo shared one in the Twelfth. She was very glad with the room arrangements made by the weather witch herself. Ororo was the perfect roommate, quiet and very reserved. Just like Rogue.
The perky brunette frowned. "Oh come on, Rogue. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. We have a whole night to ourselves unattended in the Big Easy. Can't you just like stop being so boring?"
Rogue sighed. "Ah'm not being boring Kitty. This is supposed tah be a convention. We're here with Hank and Ororo tah attend this event. This is a business trip. Not pleasure."
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Listen. All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt to go out and have some fun. Hank and Ororo are having dinner with Ms. Frost and all the other teachers from the convention. And I've already made plans with those cute guys from the Massachusetts's academy."
"Oh, that's just too bad, because Ah've made plans with this baby right here." She held up her book, which she'd brought with her from New York.
Kitty glanced at the title and crossed her arms over her small chest, sending her friend an incredulous look. "Midnight Hot? Honestly Rogue, that's just pathetic."
Rogue narrowed her eyes dangerously at the shorter teenager, tucking the book back under her arm. "Okay, so Ah am pathetic and boring, so what? Ah don't want tah go tah a stupid blind date, take Amara, or Rahne."
"Amara won't go. You know she's like in love with John, and Rahne, well Roberto would kill me."
"Oh so Ah was yah last choice?" Rogue couldn't help to feel a little hurt.
"No, of course not." The petite brunette shook her head vigorously making her pony tail bounce against her neck before continuing. "It's just that I knew you were just going to like turn me down. Like always."
"Well, Ah'm sorry. But yah know how Ah feel about dating. Besides, What's the whole point?"
"Oh please Rogue not that again. You've been wearing that new version of the Genosha collar that Hank made for you, for like over a month now. That bracelet works wonders and you know it. So, that's not a valid excuse anymore."
Hank gave Rogue the bracelet almost a year ago for Christmas, but she decided not to wear it. She wanted to learn how to control her powers on her own. But after a terrible accident involving Carol Danvers, one of the newest recruits at the mansion, just a month ago, she decided it was best to turn it on when others were around. She always kept the device on, only turning it off when necessary. During some danger room exercises, battles or when she really felt vulnerable. Like at nights, when she was alone in her bed. When sleeping.
"So?" Kitty's high pitch voice brought her out of her daydreaming state.
"So what? Ah already told yah. Ah'm not goin'."
Kitty grabbed Rogue's arm imploringly "Please, this is like our only chance to kick up our heels."
Rogue laughed inwardly, Kitty was so childish sometimes. "How about yah do the kickin' Kit-Kat. Ah'll read."
Kitty rolled her eyes one last time and sighed in defeat. "So, you won't meet my new friends?"
"Not tonight Ah wont." She didn't feel up to it on this particular night. "Ah just want tah take a hot bath, call room service, tuck under the comforter and finish readin' this book."
"I just like can't believe that you're passing on the chance of going out with me and this two totally hot guys, just to sit in your room reading that stupid book. Seriously Rogue, are you even from this planet?"
The elevator stopped on the sixth floor to pick up a couple. "Yes, but Ah doubt that yah are." Rogue whispered as she moved to the corner, she knew she could touch now, but old habits died hard.
Kitty shrugged the comment off and continued with her plea. "You really don't know what you're missing."
The elevator stopped on Kitty's floor and three people got off, "Go." Rogue all but shooed Kitty out. "Have fun. Ah hope yah guys have a great time. Ah'll be perfectly happy alone in mah hotel room. After listening tah all those long-winded speeches Ah could use a little diversion."
Kitty held the door open with her hand. "My point exactly. You like need a diversion, so come with."
It was Rogue's turn to roll her eyes. "Not that type'a diversion."
Kitty shook her head. "You are going to be so bored, and we are going to be having the best time ever!"
Rogue smiled at Kitty's last attempt to convince her. "Yes, write me a note. Don't leave anything out. Ah'll make sure Ah go over it tomorrow mornin'. 'Kay?"
"Sometimes, I just can't get you." Kitty released the door and it closed.
Rogue sighed to herself as she steeped off the elevator on her floor. She knew that Kitty meant well, but she just didn't understand. Katherine found it easy to meet guys and flirt. She on the other hand, was constantly on defense mode specially when confronted with a prospective date, she became tongue-tied and unable to strike up conversations, that's why she never went on dates and tried so hard to build-up her reputation. She had become the 'Untouchable, Unbreakable Ice-queen'—The Rogue.
Maybe someday, she mused; she would become somewhat like MariAnne D'Acanto, the heroin in her novel. MariAnne was everything she was not. Beautiful, seductive, mysterious, and brave. She feared nothing. What a woman! She was definitely the exact opposite of Rogue. Or at least what she really was deep down. Of course she was brave when her bracelet was off. Who wouldn't be? With a deadly touch and all of Ms. Marvel's powers including invulnerability and super strength.
With a sigh, Rogue put her card into the slot of her hotel door and slit it down, then turned the latch. She reached for the light switch next to the door and turned it on.
The suite was big, with two twin beds right next to each other, a night table separating them, French-crystal windows adorned the walls from side to side and white drapes hanged loosely on each end. She turned to her bed, the one to the left, she knew Storm would pick the one to the right, since it was closer to the windows.
Rogue looked to the closet on the opposite wall of the room. Inside, her suitcase stood right next to Ororo's, they hadn't even unpacked—it was their first day here, and they'd arrived a bit late. There had only been time to throw their suitcases into the closet before dashing off to the first part of the three days conference about mutant rights.
She stepped out of her shoes and tossed her book on the bed. Then she unbuttoned her black blouse; pulled it out at the waistband of her slender, dark pants and walked to the bathroom.
The water felt cold against her warm skin and her soft auburn hair fell straight against her shoulders, she rubbed her face and smelled the vanilla scented liquid soap; taking in the aroma before rubbing it against her body.
She loved the feeling of the soft scrub against her own flesh and wondered how the touch of a lover would make her feel. She has never felt that tender caress of another human being, of course, since her bracelet she's been hugged, and even some of her closest friends have gone as far as kissing her cheek, but nothing like a real kiss, nothing like a real caress, nothing since… Cody.
The thought of her first love and long time friend brought tears to her emerald eyes, she had cared for him so much, she had really loved the boy, and when he had tried to approach her she'd hurt him. She'd almost killed him. Poor Cody, she couldn't help to still feel miserable every time she thought about that first kiss, about that first love that had made a scar on her soul forever.
She finally shook the memory off and rinsed; then, she pushed the curtain aside and reached for her towel. When she re-entered the suite she was surprised to find Ororo holding her book and going through the pages.
"I'm sorry Rogue, I didn't mean to intrude. It's just that when I saw the title… Well…" She couldn't help to giggle as she shrugged "I couldn't help it. I'm sorry."
Rogue walked past her and reached for her bathrobe. "Don't worry 'bout it Storm, Ah understand... It's a really good book."
Storm raised her eyes from the book to stare at the much younger woman. "I can tell for what I've read so far. Which is not more than three or four pages."
Rogue tied the bathrobe about her waist and proceeded to dry her hair using the towel. "I thought yah were supposed tah have dinner with Ms. Frost and Mr. McCoy tonight." Rogue said vaguely without looking at the weather witch.
"Oh, I was." Ororo closed the book and placed it back on top of the bed. "But we received a call from Logan about half an hour ago. He wanted McCoy and Frost to go to New York as soon as possible. There was some trouble with Magneto and they needed them."
"Ah See" said Rogue as she stopped drying her hair to look at the much taller woman. There goes mah plans tah stay in and relax all by mahself. She thought. As she faked a smile. "Well. Ah hope everythin' goes well." She put in before walking back into the bathroom after picking out some clothes from her suitcase.
She came out about ten minutes later, wearing black jeans and a purple halter top, under a black long sleeves fisher-net shirt, which, she wore tucked in. She fashioned her hair in a high pony tail, as her short platinum color bangs fell over her forehead, her trademark combat boots and her fingerless biker gloves the only accessories on her, besides her bracelet.
Her make up was heavy as always. The black eye shadow, and dark purple lipstick gave her a much older look.
Storm stared at the young mutant as she re-entered the room. "I didn't know you were going out tonight".
Ah wasn't. She thought as she sent Ororo a look "Ah forgot tah tell yah. Ah'm going out with Kitty and some guys from the Massachusetts Academy."
Ororo smiled and put down the Discovery Magazine she was browsing. "Oh yes, I remember Kitty mentioning it to me this afternoon. I'm sorry it's been such a long day."
Rogue nodded before reaching inside her suitcase for her leather jacket. It wasn't cold down here in New Orleans but it was a little chilly tonight. She thought Storm had something to do in the sudden change of weather. She walked toward her bed and picked up her book.
"Ah'll be back in a while. Have a good night, Storm." Said Rogue before closing the door behind her.
She hated lying to Storm or anyone else for that matter, but she really needed, some alone time. She didn't want to be bothered, and wished she could just find some place quiet enough for her to sit down and enjoy her book. She knew that she wouldn't be able to do that around here. The place was crowded with mutants from all over the world that had come down here to assist the convention.
She started to walk, away from the hotel. Looking for a peaceful place. She knew she wouldn't find it around here so she decided to turn on her bracelet and fly off, about five minutes after she took off, she spotted the perfect place. A secluded area, full of tress and a lake. Nobody around to bother her, she descended slowly and looked around.
Yeap this is the perfect place for a nice and quiet Me-time. She thought as she sat on a rock close to the lake. She wondered where she was and hoped she wasn't trespassing. The place was illuminated and the grass trimmed. Oh well, she thought. If this was somebody's property it was very unlikely that they were going to be around here at this hour
She dropped her glance to the silver bracelet on her right wrist and looked at it for what if felt like an eternity. She loved the fact that, now, she had the ability to turn on and off her powers as she wished, it was as easy as pressing a button. But she hated the fact that she couldn't do it on her own, without the help of a technical device.
She reached for it and pressed the little button. About 60 seconds later the red light turned green and Rogue felt a draining sensation. She shook the feeling off and taking off her jacket she placed it right next to her. She opened her book and started reading where she'd previously left off.
A ruffling sound made Rogue lift her gaze abruptly from her book. She looked around but saw nothing, she found herself straightening her shoulders. Weird. She thought as she looked around once more. She saw nor heard anything else so she reassumed her reading.
"Wut do we have 'ere?"
She visibly jumped at the intrusion. The cool dampness of the night seeped through the stone and into Rogue's body, but any chill she felt vanished the second she turned from the book toward the man who'd come up behind her.
Back at the institute in New York, the name Rogue was synonymous with coolness under fire. Rarely was she taken by surprise. And on those few occasions when she had been, she calmly and efficiently improvised.
But this man was different. She didn't hear him approach, how long had he been there? She quickly composed and tried to keep her cool. "Ah was just reading."
With a slow smile the blond-haired man stepped closer. Tall, she noted. Well over six feet. "Readin'?" The question — or maybe it was his voice, low and slightly hoarse, deep accented with a distinctive Cajun edge— whispered through her. "Y' trespassed int' an Assassin's guild property t' read?"
Rogue swallowed hard. Did he say Assassin's? What kind of trouble did she get herself into now? She slowly reached for her bracelet to turn it on but he quickly grabbed her arms and pulled them away from each other. She whimpered and tried to pull away from his hold.
He laughed and pulled her closer to him. "Pretty femme… Who sent y'?"
Rogue pushed herself away from him enough to look at him straight in the eyes. "Nobody. Ah told ya. Ah was only here because Ah wanted tah read. This seemed like the only quiet place around."
He smiled mischievously. "Quiet?" He asked.
She nodded and tried to push away once more. Her efforts failed, this guy was much bigger and stronger than she was, and that grin on his face suggested he wasn't planning on releasing her any time soon.
Why had she turned the little device off in the first place? Stupid bracelet. Stupid her!
"Listen, Ah'm sorry, okay? Let me go. It won't happen again. Ah swear." She said but the only response she got from the man was a bigger and wider grin.
Rogue feared for the very first time since her powers had kicked in. She feared for her well-being. Oh! How she wished she'd listened to Logan. How she wished she'd paid more attention to those self-defense classes and didn't depend on her absorption power so much. This man was dangerous, she could see it on his face, and she could see it on his blue eyes.
She tried to kick him but he blocked her with his legs, she was too close to him and he had her arms pinned against his chest. There was really nothing she could do. If she could only turn the bracelet on, if she could just somehow reach that little button. This guy would be out with a single touch. But there was no way, how vulnerable she felt.
He brought her closer to him, their faces only inches apart. "Y' a spy fo' de LeBeau, non?" he whispered against her ear and she felt his right leg dig between her thighs. "I know all 'bout deir plan. Unfortunately fo' dem, dey won't find me. Not 'ere. Not tonight. Mais, Dey'll find y' Chere. At least wut's left o' y'. And hopefully dat'll teach e'm nasty thieves not t' mess wit'de Assasins."
Oh God this guy was going to really hurt her!. "Ah don't know wa' yah talkin' about." She said through gritted teeth.
He laughed. Dropping his head backwards and pulling her hair so he could see her straight in the eyes. "It's a shame y' so pretty."
Those were the last words she heard before she felt the blow on the side of her head and then, there was only blackness.
A/N: This is my first fanfiction so please review and let me know what you think.