AN: So I started this back in '11 after watching X-men: First Class. Now after DoFP, I feel like finishing it. We'll see how that goes. ;) Anyway, follows X3 and is canon with all X-men movies, except DoFP. Oh and the prompts are taken from the 10_inspirations lj comm.
"It's back," Rogue announced once she set foot in the garage.
It's all she needed to say for Logan to understand. He'd known the moment she got out of the cab and walked with heavy footsteps, but he didn't stop whatever he was doing to his bike or turn his gaze up towards Rogue until she spoke. His brows narrowed and he scowled as he stood.
"It's okay," Rogue lied, forcing a weak smile and shrugging her shoulders. "Dr. McCoy said it was a possibility." Dang near certainty was more like it, she thought with a sigh. She only wished she'd found out in a much less painful manner.
Logan's scowl deepened. He wanted to reassure her, tell her he didn't care about her powers, that he was relieved she was back. He worried endlessly everyday that Rogue was away from the school 'trying to find herself' or whatever crap Jubilee and the others tried to convince him of. He might have worried less if she hadn't left days after breaking up with Bobby.
Maybe Logan should have said something like the Professor would have: that her mutation was an asset, that she was in a position to help the X-men once again. Storm would have emphasized the importance of being among her own once more, a place where she could thrive surrounded by those who cared about her. Yet, Logan couldn't bring himself to say any of that knowing how Rogue felt about her powers.
"What now, kid?" he asked instead, walking over to her.
If he hugged her, Rogue would lose it and she really didn't feel like crying. She was tired of it, actually. Luckily, Logan stopped just short.
"Now, I'm back," she replied, tucking an errant white strand of hair behind her ear. She looked defiantly up at him, waiting for him to throw her parting words back in her face.
"Ah don't need ya, Logan. And, Ah don't need this place either."
They were said while she was hurt, feeling betrayed and abandoned after she took the cure and most of the school looked at her like she betrayed them. It didn't excuse the words, of course, and she knew it. She'd regretted them the moment they passed her lips.
"Good," he mumbled. He was done letting her work through things all on her own. She wasn't alone. She had him, for whatever that was worth. More importantly, he had her, too. With that in mind, he moved to wrap his arms around her.
"It's good to have you back, Marie," he said and she lost it.
...
Across the school, another reunion was taking place. Still smiling, Ororo pulled away from the embrace.
"I am pleased you have decided to join us," she said.
He shrugged, leaning against her desk. "Had nowhere else I needed to be just now."
"Remy," she chided gently, but the smile remained on her face. Then, she remembered what she had intended to say to him since his sudden arrival. "There is no need cover up here, you know," she reminded him, pointing to the wristband he wore.
He only grinned at her, daring her to say more.
Storm knew how he felt about his eyes, though she hoped that being at a school full of mutants would make him feel comfortable enough to drop the façade. The brown eyes he hid behind looked fine enough, but she wanted the students to get to know the real Remy.
"Here you can be yourself," she added.
Not likely, he thought.
"How about that tour, Stormy?" he winked.
"Do not call me that," she warned, but the small smile on her face betrayed her true feelings. She sighed and led him out of her office.
She knew it would take him some time to get used to being part of something again. He'd spent the last few years doing who knows what, travelling the world like he had nowhere to go. But, now that he was at Xavier's, it would be a good change for him. Actually, it would be good for everyone, Storm was sure of it.