WaR ZoNe
**Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men nor do I own nor of it's characters, except for the ones that I created w/ my own imagination. So PLEASE don't sue me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Damn!" she screamed as a fireball swept past her, singeing her ear. "That hurt!" she cried plunging deeper and deeper into the abandoned forest.
Panting heavily, her eyes searched for a place to hide. She needed to hide; he wasn't far behind! If she got caught, it would all be over.
Her eardrums vibrated as her approached. He was on to her. Spotting an over brush of bushes, she jumped behind them, surprised to find that it shielded a cave from view.
She sat unusually still as her senses worked overtime. It was amazing, her ears seemed to sharpen so that she could hear everything, from the rushing water a mile away to his panting, a couple of yards away. Her eyes darted to everything that moved, whatever moved, she was aware of it. He lips could almost taste the sweat on his body, from the lack of exercise. She could even feel him on her skin, and the smell of him was already imbedded in her nostrils.
*Whoa, I feel like I just stepped into wolverine's body* she thought to herself.
Holding her palm heavenly ward, a flame ignited a few inches from her skin. It was a tiny flame so that the light wouldn't reflect of the walls and betray her hiding place.
Her heart started to beat at an alarming rate. Her anticipation was making her extremely anxious, almost hypersensitive. He was getting closer, she could feel his feet pounding heavily on the earth, making her body go cold, making goose bumps protrude her skin.
Suddenly he was standing before her, in plain sight! His back was to her, just standing there for her to take, *this is sooo easy*, she thought.
Usually, she would have had watched his every move, trying to figure out his angle. She would have anticipated his move, and counteracted it. She would have waited for him to make the first blow, insuring that he knew where she was. She would have thought her actions out thoroughly, but for some reason, her perception was slightly cockeyed.
Before she could release the fireball that had reached the size of a baseball, he'd whipped around and hurled one right where she was! Amazingly, she'd dodged it and jumped from her hiding place, coming into view.
Releasing her fireball finally, she'd barely grazed his skin as she turned and produced another from her skin. He was chasing her again, and they were now plunging deeper and deeper into the forest.
As they plunged in deeper, she could hear him closely behind. They exchanged balls of fire, and dodged the elusive elements. And then she felt it, the ardent pain seared through her back, burning her skin; she'd been hit!
Hitting the ground with a thud, her body became limp. White-hot pain spread rapidly through her body, as the forest dissolved into a whirl of dark colors.
"You won!" she whispered.
Suddenly everything had gone black, and her body became numb.
~***~
"That was a good fight!" Johnnie smiled, looking down at her.
"Yeah," she smiled giving a small chuckle, "but next time, you be careful where you throw that thing!"
"Sorry Rogue, but Jean said you'll be fine!" he grinned.
"I bet Bobby's going to kill me, I'm late for our date!"
"I told him, he's going to be killing me, not you."
"Ok, that's fine." She smiled at him.
Sitting up, she pushed back her long flaming red hair. It was amazing that a fireball the size of a sixteen-inch softball had hit her, yet an hour later, she felt fine.
"Hey Pyro, did Jean hype me up on some morphine?"
"No, It's amazing isn't it? You hardly have a scar! But you're here all night"
"Yah!" she cheered sarcastically.
"I'm sorry though!"
"Hey, it was fun! I liked using your powers, but I would have totaled your ass if I had flown overhead!"
"I agree." He grinned lucky she hadn't.
"Ok guys, get up, it's time to go" Jean ordered, "Rogue you're here overnight, and Johnnie, go upstairs, dinner's almost ready."
"Bye Rogue, bye Jean." He smiled turning to leave.
"Bye Johnnie." She called after him; upset she was losing her only companion.
~***~
That was a month ago.
Rogue sat at her laptop. Her fingers worked quickly and skillfully across the keyboard, as her eyes followed the curser avidly.
Dear Journal,
Today is another boring day @ the Xavier Institute. Bobby is having a grand ol' time w/ his family on the farm. Pyro says that he and his amigs were having a blast @ the concert in Cally. Kitty is hitting all the hotspots w/ Jubilee, and I'm stuck here, bored to death!
I'm getting depressed sitting here, days on end w/o anyone to chat w/. Logan hasn't come back from the cold, high mountains of Canada, which insures that I'll be bored. I know that sounds sooo elementary, but it's true. Prof. X is so philosophical, it's like having a conversation w/ Plato, while he describes something so profound, that I'm totally oblivious to what the hell he's talking about!
Last night I got a really bad case of insomnia, I guess I was soo bored I just couldn't sleep. I tried, but I couldn't. It was like, like… something felt totally wrong. I was out of wack, or something.
At first I was talking w/ Bobby on the phone (actually listening, Bobby was rambling on about some shit!), and for some reason, my mind would not focus on what he was saying. I wasn't even concentrating on his voice; I didn't care! It felt so monotonous; Bobby and I always talked about insignificant shit, which was all we could do!
My mind went totally blank.
After I'd hung up w/ Bobby (I'm not sure if he'd finished), I sat on my bed and began to write a poem. It had been along time since I'd written one, but it didn't feel natural like it usually did. The way that the pen usually curved in my hand and the words regularly flowed freely from the pen, it felt good. But it was the weirdest poem I'd ever written, because as soon as I set my pen on the paper, I burst into tears. It was sooo incredible how those tears burst forth, as though I'd had some giant let down.
This is how it goes, so you'll understand:
7/5
Why am I crying so much,
Dear God?
Am I in so much pain that
I can't see the better things in life?
Has all my optimism left me?
Has all the hurt finally surfaced?
I am crying uncontrollably,
Not understanding why.
These tears are so warm against my face,
Yet I'm so cold inside.
I feel so lonely, afraid and sad,
I feel as though there's nothing left for me.
I've never broken down like this,
It doesn't make any sense.
My heart fills so empty,
I wish I had someone to talk to.
I mean, do I not have everything that I want,
That I need?
Do I not have a family,
Friends,
Good grades?
Am I not born into poverty,
Then why do I feel so empty?
I'm not missing something,
Am I?
I read back over my thoughts,
And it finally occurs to me!
It's what Joseph had for Mary,
That thing that Romeo and Juliet shared,
What Pacey and Joey have together…
LOVE!
-Rogue
It's untitled of course; I'm not much for naming stuff. But it conveys that feeling deep inside me that people never see (w/ and exception to Logan). I read it over and over again until my body felt physically and emotionally drained. Then I was void of all emotion; it made me feel like a rogue.
I know that it seems like I'm some totally narcissistic bitch, but that's just how I've always been. I've always been immune to all emotion, I've never really expressed them, and I've always suppressed them. It's just hard for me to express those things that for so long I was supposed to conceal.
I do it w/ Bobby. We could be sitting w/ each other in his room, and I'll just shut down, everything will become unfamiliar.
I can't touch anyone, I can't kiss anyone, it's pure torture. The reason we live is to gain experience and to find love. But what's the use is you can't ever express your love. I can't even give life! It's insane!
What's the use of having powers if they're more harm than good?
Ok, so back to last night.
After my poem was written, and it wad skillfully doused in tearstains, I did something… strange.
I took a warm flannel blanket, and flew up to the roof. I settled myself expertly on the ledge, and just sat there. I stared at the stretch of vast indigo blue sky. It looked almost like velvet, the way that the sky transformed from a very beautiful violet, and then to a very rich, robust noir (black). It was definitely poetic!
I sat up there all night, lost in my own thoughts. I pondered my existence; not sleeping a wink.
*Rogue, I need you down in the main hall, immediately* a voice said, interrupting her thoughts. Sighing inwardly, she answered, *Right Professor.*
Saving her file on disk, she closed her laptop and raced downstairs to the main hall. At the top of the stairs though, she stopped abruptly.
Standing before wheelchair laden Professor X was a guy. He looked young and about her age, but there was nothing unusual about him to suggest that he was like her. Working her way up, she scrutinized him through narrowed eyes.
On his large feet, he wore scruffy black leather timberland boots. His legs were long and powerful, clad in well-worn blue jeans, torn at the knees. On his large, obviously muscular chest, he adorned what seemed to be a black shirt. And hanging heavily from his broad, square shoulders was a long black leather jacket. She couldn't see his face, he had to look down to see Professor X, but she could make out the lush chestnut spikes atop his head.
"Rogue," Professor called, sensing her presence, "Come here, I'd like you to meet our new student."
"Yeah," she whispered lowering her eyes, ashamed she'd been caught staring.
Bounding down the remainder of the stairs, she stood before Professor X and the newcomer.
Now she was able to study his face, and though she wouldn't have openly admitted it, it was definitely a pleasure. His eyes were shielded behind stylish jet-black sunglasses. His nose fit his face perfectly, and was perfectly proportionate. His lips were a faded pink and were very tempting; curved flawlessly, they seemed perfect for kissing. His jaws were firm and square, and his cheekbones high. He was sooooooo hot!
"Rogue, I'd like you to meet Remi LeBeau. He'll be attending the institute in the fall."
"Ma' friends call me Gambit." He smiled, raising an attractive brow as he extended his hand to her.
Chapter II
Not taking it because of her naked hand, she turned back to the Professor.
"What is it?"
"Yes, I'm not going to be able to show him the grounds and help him settle in, so …"
"Ok, but that'll put a dent in ma' plans," she turned to Gambit, "seeing as you're putting a damper on ma' parade, you're going to have to pay!"
"What price?" he asked, his lips quirked into a nautical smile.
"You have to carry our bags at the mall today."
"OK."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, he'd agreed so easily! Bobby would have itched and moaned, and try to find some way out of it, but he didn't even give a fight? He was definitely catching her attention.
"Bye kids," Professor smiled rolling away.
Looking up at him, "Don't think ah'm trying to be rude, but I can't touch you."
"Why not?" he asked slightly offended as he finally retracted his hand.
"Because ah have cleanliness issues… but really, ah absorb powers and life energy through skin to skin contact, and ah'm not wearing ma' gloves."
"Hmm." He smiled as she whirled around and began to march up the grand Cinderella style staircase.
His lips lifted at the corners as he watched her walk before him. The way that she placed her feet in front of one another so easily, her back arched like a princess, and her hips swayed sexily down the hall, she looked good.
She was beautiful, he admitted to himself, even with her Gothly state. Working his way down, he studied her attire. Atop her wild auburn mane, she adorned a crochet black beanie. On her shoulders hung a very, very short and sexy black polo dress. It was tight enough so that it revealed all the curves of her body, but it was loose enough so that it swayed like silk on her. It fell only inches from her round full, backside. Her endlessly long legs were almost completely covered by her black thigh high boots…
"So Remi LeBeau huh, yo' parents must have been so egotistical!"
"What?" he asked blankly, her voice disrupted his thoughts.
"Anyway." She replied with a smile to herself, she had an idea of what had caught his attention.
"So what are your other powers?"
"Ah can fly, but that's the extent."
"Oh."
"Wait," she cried stopping at a door, "Lemme stop in ma' room first. Ah gotta' get ma' gloves."
As she opened the door, he found himself staring into the oddest room. Each wall, was a different color and done in a different motif. On one side, obviously Rogue's, was a mural of the British flag. Plastered over the mural were posters upon posters of Linkin Park, Incubus, Gorillaz, Stained, Weezer, etc. On the wall there were ticket stubs, dream catchers, paintings, buttons, ribbons, and other memorabilia. It was a great collage, and really artsy, despite its Gothly approach. To top all of this off, the word, "PUNK" was spray-painted in red.
The other two sides were more quaint, less interesting. The wall joining Rogue's was done in a very soft pink. On the wall was a simple, yet stylish French message board. A small lamp stood beside her bed on the cute little nightstand, and a matching chest at the foot of the bed, which held loads of stuffed animals.
On the last occupied side of the room sat unusually clean furniture. The walls were a sky blue, but that was the only color. The sheets and furniture were a very bright white, but her lamp, message board, and even picture frame were all what seemed to be sterilized metal.
"That's Jubilee's side," she watched him as his eyes roamed the room, "she's a real clean freak, and that's Kitty's side," she said cocking her head towards the pink, "she's real prissy."
"What are you?" he asked looking back at her, a smile curling his lips.
"I guess I'm punk slash Goth." She smiled pulling on some long black gloves.
He stood there silent, staring at her.
Avoiding his gaze, she walked over to him seductively. "So what's up with the glasses?" she asked pressing herself to him. Reaching out and touching his glasses lightly, she added, "what, ya' think yo' mister pretty boy?"
A smile flashed across his face as a pleasant thought filled his mind. Her breath softly touched his skin, he felt as if he were in heaven. The way that it caressed his skin with gentleness, he wanted her, he admitted to himself. He had the sudden urge to lean in and softly place a soft kiss on those tantalizing lips, but he didn't, and couldn't figure out why.
Pulling away from him, she realized something. "Damn!"
Bringing her fingers to her temples, she called Professor X. *Professor, where's his room?* she asked after locating him.
*In Bobby's room with Johnny*
*Are you kidding? * she gasped, not just thinking it.
*No Rogue, what's the problem with it? * he asked.
"Will he be there all year?" she asked aloud.
*All year Rogue* he replied.
"What?" asked Gambit finally, thinking she'd gone insane.
"Your room," she whispered deep in thought, "you're rooming with Bobby and Johnny."
"So?" he asked as she hurried past him with brows furrowed.
"So." She answered stopping two doors down.
"Ya' know them?"
"Of course, Johnny's my guy, we hang out …"
"And Bobby?"
She lowered her eyes to the doorknob, not really sure how to answer, "Bobby's a real good friend."
"A boyfriend?" he grinned teasingly.
"In the loosest sense of the word."
"You care for him though?" he asked, a little disappointed.
"Yeah," she whispered looking up at him.
Finally she opened the door. The room was done to fit Bobby's persona, totally preppy. Which is what peeved her. Whenever she sported her rave gear, and asked him to go out with her, he never wanted to go. He never liked her in those clothes. He could get pretty boring sometimes.
She pushed the long strands of white away from her face, her face suddenly flushed .
"He shops at the Gap?" he laughed, turning to face her.
"Shut up, so what if he's a prep?"
"And you're punk?" he raised an attractive brow again.
"Whatever."
He gave a small chuckle as he relieved himself of the huge army bag on his shoulder. Dropping it heavily on the bed, he sat down and looked at her.
A smile threatened to reveal itself as he watched her intense green eyes. The skillfully arched eyebrows above them raised slightly by his stare. Her beautifully curved lips were smiling, despite the dark brown lipstick. Her cheekbones were high and tented with a little brown blush, and her eyes were accentuated by the dark make-up on her eyelids. She stood out extremely well with her pale, creamy skin, which was surrounded by darkness.
Why would she wear so much make-up? He asked himself. She was one of those people that need make-up or revealing clothes to be noticed. She had a strong persona that made her seem a lot larger than she actually was.
"So what are your powers?" she asked sitting opposite of him. Crossing her legs she looked up at him. His eyes were on her legs. She smiled; her legs always looked really long when she did that.
"I can charge stuff with energy, blow up stuff."
"Bitchin'!" she grinned, "you're like a battery! Wait, can you erase charges off my credit card?"
"Ya' think?" he asked chuckling at her joke.
"Yeah, Johnny, he does fire! Sometimes, he lets me share his power, then we run through the forest frying each other!"
"Is it fun!"
"Yeah," she grinned, then her face fell, "but last time he got me good! Ah was in the First Aid ward overnight. He'd hit me square in ma' back! Bobby was so pissed! He hates when we share powers, he thinks it's self destructive and immature."
"Is he always that boring?"
"He likes structure and rules. He calls me every night, just to chat!" she gasped as if appalled.
"What's his gifts?"
"Ice." She replied flatly.
"Is that bitchin'?"
"Ice is cool, but what real damage can you do? Freeze someone's gutters? Freeze someone's dick, then castrate them?"
Gambit let out a small chuckle, his laugh was husky, …and it was also infectious. She soon found herself giggling.
"So you wanted to know about my shades?" he finally asked after the laughter had died down.
"Don't … if you don't want to, you don't have to." She assured him.
"It's ok, chere, Gambit trusts you."
She lowered her face as she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She liked him, and not only was that a problem, but it was also a refreshment. He was nothing like Bobby. He'd actually made her laugh, without resorting to childish jokes and sarcastic remarks. A genuine laugh from her was rare.
"Did Gambit say something wrong?" he whispered, a genuine look of concern enveloping on his face.
She looked back up at him, her eyes twinkling. "No, you said something right."
He grinned as she looked at her watch and stood up. "C'mon, we gotta' go meet ma' friend Sunny."
"Sunny?" he inquired.
"Yeah, she's not like us. She's … she's not a mutant. She's human, but she doesn't give a damn."
"Oh," he whispered apprehensive.
"Afterwards, we're dropping our stuff off here, and then going to rave. You'll meet ma' amigs."
"A rave?"
"Yeah, and then Sunny's sleeping over, so we'll probably catch some flix and OD on some popcorn."
His grin grew wider, "OD on popcorn, that's cute, Gambit never heard that one before!"
"C'mon guy, Sunny'll be worried."
**Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men nor do I own nor of it's characters, except for the ones that I created w/ my own imagination. So PLEASE don't sue me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Damn!" she screamed as a fireball swept past her, singeing her ear. "That hurt!" she cried plunging deeper and deeper into the abandoned forest.
Panting heavily, her eyes searched for a place to hide. She needed to hide; he wasn't far behind! If she got caught, it would all be over.
Her eardrums vibrated as her approached. He was on to her. Spotting an over brush of bushes, she jumped behind them, surprised to find that it shielded a cave from view.
She sat unusually still as her senses worked overtime. It was amazing, her ears seemed to sharpen so that she could hear everything, from the rushing water a mile away to his panting, a couple of yards away. Her eyes darted to everything that moved, whatever moved, she was aware of it. He lips could almost taste the sweat on his body, from the lack of exercise. She could even feel him on her skin, and the smell of him was already imbedded in her nostrils.
*Whoa, I feel like I just stepped into wolverine's body* she thought to herself.
Holding her palm heavenly ward, a flame ignited a few inches from her skin. It was a tiny flame so that the light wouldn't reflect of the walls and betray her hiding place.
Her heart started to beat at an alarming rate. Her anticipation was making her extremely anxious, almost hypersensitive. He was getting closer, she could feel his feet pounding heavily on the earth, making her body go cold, making goose bumps protrude her skin.
Suddenly he was standing before her, in plain sight! His back was to her, just standing there for her to take, *this is sooo easy*, she thought.
Usually, she would have had watched his every move, trying to figure out his angle. She would have anticipated his move, and counteracted it. She would have waited for him to make the first blow, insuring that he knew where she was. She would have thought her actions out thoroughly, but for some reason, her perception was slightly cockeyed.
Before she could release the fireball that had reached the size of a baseball, he'd whipped around and hurled one right where she was! Amazingly, she'd dodged it and jumped from her hiding place, coming into view.
Releasing her fireball finally, she'd barely grazed his skin as she turned and produced another from her skin. He was chasing her again, and they were now plunging deeper and deeper into the forest.
As they plunged in deeper, she could hear him closely behind. They exchanged balls of fire, and dodged the elusive elements. And then she felt it, the ardent pain seared through her back, burning her skin; she'd been hit!
Hitting the ground with a thud, her body became limp. White-hot pain spread rapidly through her body, as the forest dissolved into a whirl of dark colors.
"You won!" she whispered.
Suddenly everything had gone black, and her body became numb.
~***~
"That was a good fight!" Johnnie smiled, looking down at her.
"Yeah," she smiled giving a small chuckle, "but next time, you be careful where you throw that thing!"
"Sorry Rogue, but Jean said you'll be fine!" he grinned.
"I bet Bobby's going to kill me, I'm late for our date!"
"I told him, he's going to be killing me, not you."
"Ok, that's fine." She smiled at him.
Sitting up, she pushed back her long flaming red hair. It was amazing that a fireball the size of a sixteen-inch softball had hit her, yet an hour later, she felt fine.
"Hey Pyro, did Jean hype me up on some morphine?"
"No, It's amazing isn't it? You hardly have a scar! But you're here all night"
"Yah!" she cheered sarcastically.
"I'm sorry though!"
"Hey, it was fun! I liked using your powers, but I would have totaled your ass if I had flown overhead!"
"I agree." He grinned lucky she hadn't.
"Ok guys, get up, it's time to go" Jean ordered, "Rogue you're here overnight, and Johnnie, go upstairs, dinner's almost ready."
"Bye Rogue, bye Jean." He smiled turning to leave.
"Bye Johnnie." She called after him; upset she was losing her only companion.
~***~
That was a month ago.
Rogue sat at her laptop. Her fingers worked quickly and skillfully across the keyboard, as her eyes followed the curser avidly.
Dear Journal,
Today is another boring day @ the Xavier Institute. Bobby is having a grand ol' time w/ his family on the farm. Pyro says that he and his amigs were having a blast @ the concert in Cally. Kitty is hitting all the hotspots w/ Jubilee, and I'm stuck here, bored to death!
I'm getting depressed sitting here, days on end w/o anyone to chat w/. Logan hasn't come back from the cold, high mountains of Canada, which insures that I'll be bored. I know that sounds sooo elementary, but it's true. Prof. X is so philosophical, it's like having a conversation w/ Plato, while he describes something so profound, that I'm totally oblivious to what the hell he's talking about!
Last night I got a really bad case of insomnia, I guess I was soo bored I just couldn't sleep. I tried, but I couldn't. It was like, like… something felt totally wrong. I was out of wack, or something.
At first I was talking w/ Bobby on the phone (actually listening, Bobby was rambling on about some shit!), and for some reason, my mind would not focus on what he was saying. I wasn't even concentrating on his voice; I didn't care! It felt so monotonous; Bobby and I always talked about insignificant shit, which was all we could do!
My mind went totally blank.
After I'd hung up w/ Bobby (I'm not sure if he'd finished), I sat on my bed and began to write a poem. It had been along time since I'd written one, but it didn't feel natural like it usually did. The way that the pen usually curved in my hand and the words regularly flowed freely from the pen, it felt good. But it was the weirdest poem I'd ever written, because as soon as I set my pen on the paper, I burst into tears. It was sooo incredible how those tears burst forth, as though I'd had some giant let down.
This is how it goes, so you'll understand:
7/5
Why am I crying so much,
Dear God?
Am I in so much pain that
I can't see the better things in life?
Has all my optimism left me?
Has all the hurt finally surfaced?
I am crying uncontrollably,
Not understanding why.
These tears are so warm against my face,
Yet I'm so cold inside.
I feel so lonely, afraid and sad,
I feel as though there's nothing left for me.
I've never broken down like this,
It doesn't make any sense.
My heart fills so empty,
I wish I had someone to talk to.
I mean, do I not have everything that I want,
That I need?
Do I not have a family,
Friends,
Good grades?
Am I not born into poverty,
Then why do I feel so empty?
I'm not missing something,
Am I?
I read back over my thoughts,
And it finally occurs to me!
It's what Joseph had for Mary,
That thing that Romeo and Juliet shared,
What Pacey and Joey have together…
LOVE!
-Rogue
It's untitled of course; I'm not much for naming stuff. But it conveys that feeling deep inside me that people never see (w/ and exception to Logan). I read it over and over again until my body felt physically and emotionally drained. Then I was void of all emotion; it made me feel like a rogue.
I know that it seems like I'm some totally narcissistic bitch, but that's just how I've always been. I've always been immune to all emotion, I've never really expressed them, and I've always suppressed them. It's just hard for me to express those things that for so long I was supposed to conceal.
I do it w/ Bobby. We could be sitting w/ each other in his room, and I'll just shut down, everything will become unfamiliar.
I can't touch anyone, I can't kiss anyone, it's pure torture. The reason we live is to gain experience and to find love. But what's the use is you can't ever express your love. I can't even give life! It's insane!
What's the use of having powers if they're more harm than good?
Ok, so back to last night.
After my poem was written, and it wad skillfully doused in tearstains, I did something… strange.
I took a warm flannel blanket, and flew up to the roof. I settled myself expertly on the ledge, and just sat there. I stared at the stretch of vast indigo blue sky. It looked almost like velvet, the way that the sky transformed from a very beautiful violet, and then to a very rich, robust noir (black). It was definitely poetic!
I sat up there all night, lost in my own thoughts. I pondered my existence; not sleeping a wink.
*Rogue, I need you down in the main hall, immediately* a voice said, interrupting her thoughts. Sighing inwardly, she answered, *Right Professor.*
Saving her file on disk, she closed her laptop and raced downstairs to the main hall. At the top of the stairs though, she stopped abruptly.
Standing before wheelchair laden Professor X was a guy. He looked young and about her age, but there was nothing unusual about him to suggest that he was like her. Working her way up, she scrutinized him through narrowed eyes.
On his large feet, he wore scruffy black leather timberland boots. His legs were long and powerful, clad in well-worn blue jeans, torn at the knees. On his large, obviously muscular chest, he adorned what seemed to be a black shirt. And hanging heavily from his broad, square shoulders was a long black leather jacket. She couldn't see his face, he had to look down to see Professor X, but she could make out the lush chestnut spikes atop his head.
"Rogue," Professor called, sensing her presence, "Come here, I'd like you to meet our new student."
"Yeah," she whispered lowering her eyes, ashamed she'd been caught staring.
Bounding down the remainder of the stairs, she stood before Professor X and the newcomer.
Now she was able to study his face, and though she wouldn't have openly admitted it, it was definitely a pleasure. His eyes were shielded behind stylish jet-black sunglasses. His nose fit his face perfectly, and was perfectly proportionate. His lips were a faded pink and were very tempting; curved flawlessly, they seemed perfect for kissing. His jaws were firm and square, and his cheekbones high. He was sooooooo hot!
"Rogue, I'd like you to meet Remi LeBeau. He'll be attending the institute in the fall."
"Ma' friends call me Gambit." He smiled, raising an attractive brow as he extended his hand to her.
Chapter II
Not taking it because of her naked hand, she turned back to the Professor.
"What is it?"
"Yes, I'm not going to be able to show him the grounds and help him settle in, so …"
"Ok, but that'll put a dent in ma' plans," she turned to Gambit, "seeing as you're putting a damper on ma' parade, you're going to have to pay!"
"What price?" he asked, his lips quirked into a nautical smile.
"You have to carry our bags at the mall today."
"OK."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, he'd agreed so easily! Bobby would have itched and moaned, and try to find some way out of it, but he didn't even give a fight? He was definitely catching her attention.
"Bye kids," Professor smiled rolling away.
Looking up at him, "Don't think ah'm trying to be rude, but I can't touch you."
"Why not?" he asked slightly offended as he finally retracted his hand.
"Because ah have cleanliness issues… but really, ah absorb powers and life energy through skin to skin contact, and ah'm not wearing ma' gloves."
"Hmm." He smiled as she whirled around and began to march up the grand Cinderella style staircase.
His lips lifted at the corners as he watched her walk before him. The way that she placed her feet in front of one another so easily, her back arched like a princess, and her hips swayed sexily down the hall, she looked good.
She was beautiful, he admitted to himself, even with her Gothly state. Working his way down, he studied her attire. Atop her wild auburn mane, she adorned a crochet black beanie. On her shoulders hung a very, very short and sexy black polo dress. It was tight enough so that it revealed all the curves of her body, but it was loose enough so that it swayed like silk on her. It fell only inches from her round full, backside. Her endlessly long legs were almost completely covered by her black thigh high boots…
"So Remi LeBeau huh, yo' parents must have been so egotistical!"
"What?" he asked blankly, her voice disrupted his thoughts.
"Anyway." She replied with a smile to herself, she had an idea of what had caught his attention.
"So what are your other powers?"
"Ah can fly, but that's the extent."
"Oh."
"Wait," she cried stopping at a door, "Lemme stop in ma' room first. Ah gotta' get ma' gloves."
As she opened the door, he found himself staring into the oddest room. Each wall, was a different color and done in a different motif. On one side, obviously Rogue's, was a mural of the British flag. Plastered over the mural were posters upon posters of Linkin Park, Incubus, Gorillaz, Stained, Weezer, etc. On the wall there were ticket stubs, dream catchers, paintings, buttons, ribbons, and other memorabilia. It was a great collage, and really artsy, despite its Gothly approach. To top all of this off, the word, "PUNK" was spray-painted in red.
The other two sides were more quaint, less interesting. The wall joining Rogue's was done in a very soft pink. On the wall was a simple, yet stylish French message board. A small lamp stood beside her bed on the cute little nightstand, and a matching chest at the foot of the bed, which held loads of stuffed animals.
On the last occupied side of the room sat unusually clean furniture. The walls were a sky blue, but that was the only color. The sheets and furniture were a very bright white, but her lamp, message board, and even picture frame were all what seemed to be sterilized metal.
"That's Jubilee's side," she watched him as his eyes roamed the room, "she's a real clean freak, and that's Kitty's side," she said cocking her head towards the pink, "she's real prissy."
"What are you?" he asked looking back at her, a smile curling his lips.
"I guess I'm punk slash Goth." She smiled pulling on some long black gloves.
He stood there silent, staring at her.
Avoiding his gaze, she walked over to him seductively. "So what's up with the glasses?" she asked pressing herself to him. Reaching out and touching his glasses lightly, she added, "what, ya' think yo' mister pretty boy?"
A smile flashed across his face as a pleasant thought filled his mind. Her breath softly touched his skin, he felt as if he were in heaven. The way that it caressed his skin with gentleness, he wanted her, he admitted to himself. He had the sudden urge to lean in and softly place a soft kiss on those tantalizing lips, but he didn't, and couldn't figure out why.
Pulling away from him, she realized something. "Damn!"
Bringing her fingers to her temples, she called Professor X. *Professor, where's his room?* she asked after locating him.
*In Bobby's room with Johnny*
*Are you kidding? * she gasped, not just thinking it.
*No Rogue, what's the problem with it? * he asked.
"Will he be there all year?" she asked aloud.
*All year Rogue* he replied.
"What?" asked Gambit finally, thinking she'd gone insane.
"Your room," she whispered deep in thought, "you're rooming with Bobby and Johnny."
"So?" he asked as she hurried past him with brows furrowed.
"So." She answered stopping two doors down.
"Ya' know them?"
"Of course, Johnny's my guy, we hang out …"
"And Bobby?"
She lowered her eyes to the doorknob, not really sure how to answer, "Bobby's a real good friend."
"A boyfriend?" he grinned teasingly.
"In the loosest sense of the word."
"You care for him though?" he asked, a little disappointed.
"Yeah," she whispered looking up at him.
Finally she opened the door. The room was done to fit Bobby's persona, totally preppy. Which is what peeved her. Whenever she sported her rave gear, and asked him to go out with her, he never wanted to go. He never liked her in those clothes. He could get pretty boring sometimes.
She pushed the long strands of white away from her face, her face suddenly flushed .
"He shops at the Gap?" he laughed, turning to face her.
"Shut up, so what if he's a prep?"
"And you're punk?" he raised an attractive brow again.
"Whatever."
He gave a small chuckle as he relieved himself of the huge army bag on his shoulder. Dropping it heavily on the bed, he sat down and looked at her.
A smile threatened to reveal itself as he watched her intense green eyes. The skillfully arched eyebrows above them raised slightly by his stare. Her beautifully curved lips were smiling, despite the dark brown lipstick. Her cheekbones were high and tented with a little brown blush, and her eyes were accentuated by the dark make-up on her eyelids. She stood out extremely well with her pale, creamy skin, which was surrounded by darkness.
Why would she wear so much make-up? He asked himself. She was one of those people that need make-up or revealing clothes to be noticed. She had a strong persona that made her seem a lot larger than she actually was.
"So what are your powers?" she asked sitting opposite of him. Crossing her legs she looked up at him. His eyes were on her legs. She smiled; her legs always looked really long when she did that.
"I can charge stuff with energy, blow up stuff."
"Bitchin'!" she grinned, "you're like a battery! Wait, can you erase charges off my credit card?"
"Ya' think?" he asked chuckling at her joke.
"Yeah, Johnny, he does fire! Sometimes, he lets me share his power, then we run through the forest frying each other!"
"Is it fun!"
"Yeah," she grinned, then her face fell, "but last time he got me good! Ah was in the First Aid ward overnight. He'd hit me square in ma' back! Bobby was so pissed! He hates when we share powers, he thinks it's self destructive and immature."
"Is he always that boring?"
"He likes structure and rules. He calls me every night, just to chat!" she gasped as if appalled.
"What's his gifts?"
"Ice." She replied flatly.
"Is that bitchin'?"
"Ice is cool, but what real damage can you do? Freeze someone's gutters? Freeze someone's dick, then castrate them?"
Gambit let out a small chuckle, his laugh was husky, …and it was also infectious. She soon found herself giggling.
"So you wanted to know about my shades?" he finally asked after the laughter had died down.
"Don't … if you don't want to, you don't have to." She assured him.
"It's ok, chere, Gambit trusts you."
She lowered her face as she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She liked him, and not only was that a problem, but it was also a refreshment. He was nothing like Bobby. He'd actually made her laugh, without resorting to childish jokes and sarcastic remarks. A genuine laugh from her was rare.
"Did Gambit say something wrong?" he whispered, a genuine look of concern enveloping on his face.
She looked back up at him, her eyes twinkling. "No, you said something right."
He grinned as she looked at her watch and stood up. "C'mon, we gotta' go meet ma' friend Sunny."
"Sunny?" he inquired.
"Yeah, she's not like us. She's … she's not a mutant. She's human, but she doesn't give a damn."
"Oh," he whispered apprehensive.
"Afterwards, we're dropping our stuff off here, and then going to rave. You'll meet ma' amigs."
"A rave?"
"Yeah, and then Sunny's sleeping over, so we'll probably catch some flix and OD on some popcorn."
His grin grew wider, "OD on popcorn, that's cute, Gambit never heard that one before!"
"C'mon guy, Sunny'll be worried."